Wire-twisting machine



Aug. 19, 1924. 1,505,673

' G. B. SMITH WIRE TWISTING MACHINE `0 GARY B, SM/771 Aug. 1x9 1924. 1,505,673

G. B. SMITH WIRE TWISTING MACHINE Filed Feb. '7, 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 S14/vento@ @AHV .5. S/w/TH Aug. 19 1924.

G. B. SMITH WIRE TwIsT'ING MACHINE Filed Feb, 7, 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. i9, 192e.

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res? TEN'T oFFicE;

GARY B. SMITH, OF CHICAGO, ILL-INOS.

writE-rwrsfrrive Maciirivnapplication ined February To all whom t may concer/7i:

Be it known that l, GARY B. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing vat Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of lllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVire-Twisting Machines, of which the following is a speciiicajt1on form the helices of the coil uniformly, malt! ing the coil tubular or ,hollow so asto have resiliency7 and slight elasticity, as desirable when the coil or cable is used `in bed-spring fabrics. f

Aknothe-r object is the provision in Athe ma-k chine of a novel and improved device for rotating the coil or twisted wire, whereby to twist the wire without using a ychuck or similar device for gripping the wire and turning same, so as to eliminate the difficulties attendant to the use of such a chuck, the wire being rotated between rollers which are mounted in a novel manner for clamping the wire between them and turning saine by friction with said rollers.

A further object is the provision of a novel and simple twist-forming 'device in which the strands are formed in an eflicient manner into the helical coil, and provision being made for the ready separation and adjustment of the parts when necessary.

A further object is the provision of such wireerotating device and twist-forming device, and novel means for operating them relatively to one another, whereby the twistforming device is moved away from the wire-rotating device during the twisting of f the wire, and the wire then releasedbyjthe wire-rotating device, and the twist-forming device then moves to feed the twisted wire through the wire-rotating device, after which the operation is repeated, suchy twisting and feeding of the wire alternating.

A still further object is the provision'of a novel device for comprising or rolling the twisted wire for reducing the diameter thereof and elongating the` wire, -in order 7, 192e. 'serial No. 356,852'.

tightly together, making the wire stiffer and removing vexcess elasticity thereof, so as to make it `more lsuitable for use in fbed'-` spring fabricsand the like.

Another Objectis to' provide a novel and eflicientjdevice for cutting the wire into different selected lengths when delivered lfrom the machine, andoperable automatically for, cutting the wirer rntolany 'desired lengths within the adjustmentsof theydevice, yso as` to accuratelylineasure the lengths ofwire and relieve kthe operator of this duty.

rl still yfurthe;object is the 'provision of novel means Vfor receiving the delivered wire, to guide itfrom ythe machine,rand operable to drop theseveral lengths of wire into a'boX or other receptacle, yin which the lengths of wire are accumulated, and from which they can be readily removed without interfering with theoperation of the ina-` chine. f

The invention also has for its object the provision of ya machiney of the nature indicated wherein such devices are constructed and arranged to enable the twistedwire to be loosened and removed, for thepurpose of introducing a new strand, when one of the strandsgives outor is broken, aswell as enabling adjustments and repairs to be made easily without difiiculty or takingdown the machine.

lWith the foregoingrand other objects in view, which willb'e apparentes 4the description proceeds, the inventiony resides in the construction and arrangement of yparts' hereinafter described and claimed,vit being understood that changes 'can be ma'dewithin the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit .of the invention.

The inventionis yillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein y Figure l is a side elevation ofthe machine, portions being broken away.

iFigf. Q is a plan viewy of they machine.

F igj is a ,vertical'transver'se sectiony of the twist-forming device taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, on an enlargedscale.

Fig. 4 is a View of the device taken on the line l--t of Fig. 3; Figf isa longitudinal vsection on theiline of Fig. l l Figs' `and 7 are enlarged Crosssections on therespective l. f i' that the strands thereof will be brought lio Fig. Sis an enlarged end view of the machine showing the wire-cutting device, and wire-receiving and dumping trough. Y

Fig. 9 is a cross-section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 2, on an enlarged scale, .showing the wire-compressing or rolling device.

Fig. 10 is a view, partly in sectionand partly in elevation, showing a modification in the cam for reciprocating the twist-forming device. y

The frame of the machine includes a longitudinal bed 1 mounted on suitable legs 2 in which the longitudinal power'shaft 3 is journaled, it being provided with a pulley wheel l for driving it. A sprocket wheel 5 secured on the shaft 3 .is connected by a sprocket vchain `6 with a sprocket wheel 7 secured on a longitudinal shaft 8 journaled -forirotation' under the bed 1. llhis shaft 8 rotates at a relatively high speed, and is connected by a vgear train with a longitudinal cam shaft 9 thatrotates at av slower velocity, the shaft 9 rotating once for each cycle of operations of the several devices. The operative connection between the shafts 8 and 9 includes a ygear pinion 11 secured on ythe shaftS and meshingfwith a gear wheel 12 mounted loosely on the shaft 9 and provided with a pinion 13 in turn meshing with a gear Wheel 14: secured on an idler shaft 15 journaled in the hanger 10 which depends from the bed 1 and in whichthe shaft 9 is also journaled.` A pinion 16 secured to the shaft 15 meshes with a gear wheel 17 that is secured on the shaft 9. This train of gears provides the proper speed reduction sol that the shaft 9 vwill rotate slowly, once for every twenty revolutions of the shaft S in the embodiment of the invention as shown.

Mounted on the bed lare the wire-rotating device 18, the twist-forming device 19, the wire-compressing or rolling .device 20, and the wirecuttingl device 21, andA the wireereceiving and dumping trough 22 is located beyond the vvcutting device 21. The several devices will be taken up and described in detail sparately.

Coil form-ng device.

The coilforming device 19l comprises a block having two side sections or plates and 24' disposed face to face in a vertical longitudinal position, the lower edge of the plate 23 having a base 25 on which the plate 24C is seated, and said base having a threaded stud 26 screwed into the supporting table or'platev 27 mounted on a longitudinal slide bar-28.1novable longitudinally upon the bed Zontal slot 30 extending from one end and having its closed end lcut obliquely, as at 31, to guide the strands 32 at the proper .angle through the slot 30 into the bore 29.

Y forwardly through the device19 in which they are formed into a helical twisted coil or cable, and this twisted wire coil or cable moves forwardly through the devices 18, 20fand 21 in succession. f

ln order to guider the strands to form the helices, a 'tubular die member 34C is fitted within the rear `end of the bore 29,. being lprovided at its rear end with a head 35 located within an enlargement of the rear end of said bore, and a pin 86 carried by the plate 23 engages within the head 35 to loch the member 34: in place.

yThe forward end of the member 34 is formed with a helical die 37 leading from the rear oblique end 31 of the slot 30, whereby the last strand 82 is guided along said end 31 of the slot and die 37 into the proper helical form, and the other strands are disposed one against the other so that each is similarly guided through the slot 30 and within the bore 29 around the core wire 38 which eX- tends through the die member' 34, and around which the wire is twisted so that the twisted wire or coil is tubular. This wire 38 extends rearwardly and is anchored to a freely rotatable anchor 39 carried by the rear end of the bed, permitting said wire to ron tate with the twisted wire, and enabling the twisted wire to be stripped from the core wire when the twisted wire is fed forwardly. The die 37 extends almost completely around the wire 38 to guide the strands around said core wire, and said die terminates in a point or linger 37 over which the strands pass.

The strands 32 all enter the device 19 at an angle from-one side through the single slot 80, whereby to rest one against thevother, to form a perfect set of helices, and the point or finger 87 can be suhciently strong and rigid to withstand the strains to which itis subjected, it being noted that when the wire is twisted around the core wire 38, there is a rearward pressure on the strands 32 which is exerted against the die and point 37. A vertical pin l0 is inserted within the plate 23 and entends through the slot 30 tangentially with the bore 29 so that the foremost strand 32 passes said pin in contact therewith, thereby holding it against forward displacement, and keeping the strands in contact as they pass through the slot 30 over the core wire 38. The plates 28 and 24 are secured together by means of screws l1.`

These screws clamp the plates tightly together, and by removing the screws, the

plate 24 can be removed for convenience in taking care of the device. This enables the member 34 to be removed for filing or shaping the die 37, and the adjacent sides of the plates 23 and 24 can also be filed away to bring them closer together, as when' the plates wear away by the action of the wire therein. As the strands 32 are twisted around the core wire 38, they form the twist ed wire coil 42, and the pressure ofthe strands against the die 37 will move the device 19 rearwardly with the slide bar 28, and means is provided for retarding the rearward movement of the device 19, and then shifting it forwardly, as will hereinafter more fully appear. f

Wire-rotating deoce.

The device 18 for rotating the twisted wire coil 42 is disposed forwardly `of the twist-forming device 19, and includes a pair of lower longitudinal rolls 43 and an upper longitudinal roll 44 between which the coil 42 passes. These rolls are of such size and so arranged as to frictionallly contact with the coil 42 for a certain distance of its length, say about one foot, and the coil seats between the lower rolls 43 and has the upper roll 44 bearing thereon, whereby to tightly clamp said coil between the rolls, and the rolls are rotated in the same direction for turning the coil 42 in the proper direction to twist the strands 32 within the twist-,forming device 19. The ends of the lower rolls 43 are journaled within bearings 45 slidable vertically within recesses 46 in pillowbloclrs 47 mounted transversely on the bed 1; and said bearings can be guided for vertical movement by guide pins 48. This permits said rolls 43 to bear against supporting rollers 49 journaled, as at 50, within the pillow blocks 47, whereby said rollers receive the pressure of the rolls 43,'and prevent the rolls 43 from bowing or flexing away from the coil 42 under the pressure. These rollers 49 also enable the rolls 43 to turn freely, serving as roller bearings for said rolls. A. similar roller 51 is located above and a shorter roller 51 at one side of the upper roll 44 to hold it down against the coil 42, and to prevent said roll 44 from bending,

upwardly or sidewise away from the coil as well as permitting said roll to turn freely. These rolls and their corresponding rollers are located in planes radiating from the axis of the coil 42, whereby the rolls can turn' freely and will be held firmly against the coil during the twisting operation. If the rolls 43 and 44. which must necessarily be small in diameter to bear against the-coil without contacting with one another, were not reenforced by the rollers 49 and 51, they would be apt to spring away from thecoil, but with the provision of the rollers, they are held firmly against the coil throughout their lengths to and rolls. f

The upper roll 44 is raised intermittently for releasing the coil, so that it ycan be fed through the device 18 when it is'moved forwardly with the device 19, and for this purpose a cap member 52 is disposed over the pillo-,w blocks 47 and hinged thereto at one side, asy at 53, so as to be capable of swinging upwardly. The roll 44 and roller 51 are journaled in the ends of the member 52, and said member is swingable upwardly awayT from that side at whichthe operator is located, so as to rlift the roll 44 up off ofthe prevent slippage between said .coily coil, and permit the coil to be removed when necessary. I

The rolls43 and 44 are geared to the shaft 8. Thus, gear pinions 55 are provided on the forward ends of rolls 43, between the forward pillow block 47 and a bearing plate 54 supported thereon forward thereof,-and these pinions mesh with an idler gea-r wheel 57 that in turn meshes with a pinion 58 secured on the shaft 8, thereby rotating the lower rolls 43. A gear pinion 56 on the for-` vward end of the roll 44 is connected to one of the pinions 55 by means of an idler gear` 59 journaled to and ,located between a bearing'60 on the forward pillow block 47 and..

the bearing plate 54. The rolls are thus driven from the shaft 8 at a relatively high speed, and` each roll ispositively driven and by frictional contact with the coil will assist viny the rotation of the coil.

Therolls 43 kand. 44 being geared to the shaft 8 will rotate continuously during the operation of the machine, and means ,is provided for causing said rolls to grip and release the twisted wire. 1Eor this purpose, al longitudinal bar 61 is provided with trunnions 62 at its endsseated on the ends of the member 52 aty that side opposite to the hinge 53, and coiled wire expansion springs are confined between the pillow blocks k47 yand member 52, tending to swing said mem# ber upwardly forraising the roll 44 and thereby release the coil 42. Vert-ical rods 63 extend through the bar 61 near the ends thereof, being secured to said bar by means of nuts (34 on said rods, and bearing members 65 are secured to the lower ends of said rods and embrace a longitudinal eccentric rod 67 having eccentric trunnions 66 at its endsfjournaled in the pillow blocks 47, so

that when said eccentric rod 67 is turned,

thiswill raise or lower the rods 63 and bar 61 according to the direction in which the rod 67 is turned. The rod 67 has a radial arnr 68, which extends downwardly at an angle from one side of the bed, and when said arm (58r is raised, the rod 67 is turned for raising the rods 63 and bar 61, so that the springs 60 will raise the member 52 `and roll 44, therebyfreeing the coil 42. The arm k68 is operated by a `tnansverse slide 6,9

mounted under the bed, and provided at oner end with a tongue T slidable in one side flange ofthe bed, and with a stem 71 at the other end slidable through the other llange cf the bed. A. piece 72 is hinged, as at 73, to the slide 69 and is secured on the arm 68 by means cf a nut 7e?, or the like, whereby the slide is moving toward the left (see Fig. y() willraise the arm 68, whereas the-slide in being moved toward the right will swing saidA arm downwardly. The slide 69 has a dewnw diy o'll'set portion 75 passing under the shar tl, and a coiled wire expansion spring 70 is confined between the end of the stein 1 d corresponding side flange of the bed, thereby moving the slide 69 toward the right., to swing the arm 68 downwardly and move the member 52 likewise under considerable pressure to hold the roll 114 tightly on the coil during the twisting operation. The spring 76 thus exerts a force te clamp the coil tightly between the rolls,.so that the 'trictional contact of the rolls with the coil will be su'licient for turning the coil without slippage. 'lheslide 69 has a depending portion 77 carrying a roller 7S to cooperate with a cam 79 on the shaft 9, whereby said cam in engaging` the roller will move the slide 09 against the tension of the spring 76, 'thereby raising the arm 08 and member 52, and lifting the roll Llll so as to release the coil, it being noted that said member 52 is raised by the springs 60 when the pressure is released by themovcment of the slide 69 by the cam 79. Thus, during one position of the slide 69, the coil is gripped by the rolls and rotated, and in the other position of the slide 69, the coil .is released so that it can slide Jforward freely. y

- This' actuating means for causing the roll la to grip and release the coil operates in harmony with means for actuating the bar 28 that carries the twist-forming device 19. A cam drum 100 is secured on the shaft 9 under the bar 28, and has a cani flange 101 thereon, part of which extends helically in one direction and the other part helically in the opposite direction. A. roller 102 bears rearwardly against said flange, being carried by a pintle 103 adjustable in a longitudinal slot i011 in the bar 2S, and a nut 105 is threaded on saidpintle for clamping it to said bar in its adjusted position. llilhen the wire is being twisted, the device 19 is forced rearwardly by the twisting of the wire, as above pointed out, and the roller 102 in contacting with the corresponding portion of the flange 101 will serve to retard the movement of the bar 2.8 and device 19 so as to prevent same from moving too fast, and therefore avoiding the twisting of an open coil, and maintaining the helices uniform, and during this action, the`roll let bears on the coil 42 so as to .twist thev wire. Then, when the device 19 has reached its limitin moving rearwardly, the

cam Z9 operates to release the roll 44 from the coil 42, and the cam flange 101 now moves the roller 102 forwardly, so as to move the bar 28 and device 19 forwardly.`

the device 19 reaches its extreme forward position, the operation is repeated, the roll being again brought under pressureA againstthe coil 42 by the spring .76, and the device 19 being moved rearwardly by the twisting of the wire, during which movement of the device 19, the roller 102 bears against the flange 101 to constain the device 19 for steady rearward movement. ln malring adjustments or inserting a wire strand, the device 19 can be moved forwardly in any position of the cani drum 100, since the cam is open in rear of the roller 102, permitting said roller 'to move rearwardly away from the flange 101. After the desired adjustment has been made ort-he strand introduced, the device 19 is again slid rearwardly to bring the roller 102 against thecam flange 101, or the machine operated until said flange contacts with the roller 102. This same result can be obtained by loosening the nut 105, lleaving the roller 102 in its position, and sliding the bar 28v forwardly, after which the bar is returned and the nut 105 "i tightened.

10 illustrates a modification, in which the cam is'clesed in rear of the roller 102, the drum 100 having cam flanges .101 in front and in rear of the roller, between which the roller moves, thereby preventing the longitudinal displacement of said roller. The device 19 can be shifted forwardly, however, by loosening the wing nut 105 on the pintle 103, so that said bar can be shifted forwardly by the provision of slot 104: therein through which the pintle extends. The forward end of the slot 104 normally bears against said pintle.

Wire-compressing or 'rollz'ag device.

The device for compressing or rolling twisted wire comprises upper and lower rolls 81 and 82, disposed in a vertical longitudinal plane inv front of the device 1S, and said rolls have peripheral grooves curved transversely on a radius slightly less than the radius of the twisted wire as it leaves the device 18, whereby the twisted wire in passing between said rolls will be compressed so as to reduce the diameter of the coil l2 and bring the strands snugly together. This will also elongate the twisted coil and add to the stillness thereof, whereby .it will tend to maintain its position, as well as decreasing 'the elasticity to avoid excessive stretching of the coil.

The rolls 81 and 82 are carried by the respective upper and lower transverse shafts 83 and Se, the upper shaft 83beingt jour naled in a suitable pedestal 85having its base secured on the bed 1, and said shafts are operatively connected by intermeshing gears 86 secured on those ends opposite to the enos on which the rolls are secured. rthe rolls are driven with the rolls of the device 19, and for this purpose a worm wheel 87 is secured on the shaft 83 and is engaged by a worin 88 mounted on a shaft 89 extending from one of the rolls 113. rlie worm gearing serves as a speed reduction for the rolls 81 and 82, and they are driven continuously, the same as the rolls 13 and of the device 1S.

The rolls 81 and 82 are separated and moved toward one another for releasing and gripping the coil 12, and to this end, a vertical slide 90 is movable within the pedestal 85, and pivotally mounted bearings 91 and 92 for the shaft 84; are mounted within openings of the slide 90 and pedestal 85, respectively, permitting said bearings to tilt when the slide 90 is slid vertically for raising and lowering the roll 82. The slight movement of the gears 86 will not impair the meshing thereof during the continued rotation of the parts. The slide 90 is provided at its lower end with a fork 93 fitting asti-ide a cam 941 secured on the shaft 9, and a roller 95 is mounted. within said fork to rest on said cam. The side portions of the fork are slotted, as at 96, to lit over the shaft 9, thereby guiding the lower end of t-he slide 90 for vertical movement. rThe cam 94e is of a shape and is timed with respect to the cam 79 and cam drum 100, whereby the device 29 is operated in harmony with the devices 18 and 19. The cam 94C thus raises the slide 90 and causes the roll 82 to clamp the coil 12 between the two rolls, when the cam 79 operates to release the roll 114 from the coil and when the device 19 is slid forwardly. Consequently, the rolls 81 and 82 will, in turning, assist in the forward feeding of the coil, and as the coil passes between the rolls` it is compressed into smaller diameter, as above stated. Then, when the roll 44 is moved downwardly by the spring 76 to twist the wire, and the device 19 moved forwardly, the cam 941 permits the slide 90 to gravitate, thereby lowering the roll 82 and releasing the coil, so that the tendency of the rolls to feed the coil forwardly is stopped during the twisting operation. The device 20 thus operates at the same time as the device 19, for the forward feeding movement of the twisted wire through the devices v18 and 21.

rolls 81 and 82 are separated, the 'coil42 can be removed from between said rolls. 1n this connection, it will be observed that by swinging the bar 61 toward the front side of the machine toward the operator, the

Thegears 86 are located at the back side of the machine, so that when the A trunnions 62 are removed from the notches i Wire-cutting device.

- Ther wire-cutting device 21 is for the purpose of automatically cutting the wire into any desired lengths within the limits of adjustment of thedevice, thereby relieving 'the operator of this duty, andy assuring of accurate` cutting of the wire without they atten-' tion of the operator. The bed 1 is provided at its forward end with a vertical transverse plate 119 having an aperture 111 through which the coil 12 passes from the compressing device 20, and a wheel 112, which serves both as a ratchet wheel and cutter, is mounted for rotation on. ,a stud113 carriedzby the plate 110. This ratchet wheel 112 has an annular series of apertures 114 to register in succession with the aperture 111 for the passage of the coil, and when the ratchet wheel is rotated onestep, it will shear or sever the cable and bring the next aperture into registration with the aperture 111.

The ratchet and cutter wheel 112 is ro step by step, and the actuating meansv tated is adjustable to advance the ratchet wheel one step for a given adjustment so that the desiredlength of coil will pass through before being cut. The actuating means includesr an arm 115 mounted for rocking movement on the stud 113 carrying a. pawl 116 engaging the ratchet teeth of thewheel 112, and a retract-ile spring `117 connects the arm 115 and plate 119 whereby to return thearm 115 so as to advancethe ratchet wheel one step, A spring' buffer 118 istcarried by the plate to stop the arm 115 and cushion same. The arm v115V is moved against the tension of the spring 117 by means of aratchet wheel 119 mounted on a` stud 120 carried by the plate 110, and said wheel 119 has a; roller pin 121 to contact with and wipe along the arm 115 which eX- tends partially across the face of the wheel 119. Thus, as the wheel 119 rotates, the pin 121 will swing the arm 115 .away from the. buffer 118 and the arm is then released so that the spring' 117 comes into play for returning saidA arm.` rllhe pawl 116 duringy such return of the arm will advance the. ratchet wheel`112 one step so as to cut the wire and bring the next aperture 114 into registration withthe aperture 111 soy that `the coil can pass `from the compressing device 20. An karm 122 mounted on the stud 120 is connected by a connecting rod or link 123 with a radially adjustable wrist pin 1211 carried by a slide 125 movable in a diametrical slot in a crank disk 129 secured on the forward end of the shaft 9, said slide 125 being adjusted by a screw 126. Thus, the wrist pin 124 can be adjusted to regulate the throw of the connecting rod 123 and arm 122a-nd the smaller the throw, the greater number of rotations of the shaft 9 there will be necessary to act-nate the cutting device. The arm 122 carries ya plurality of pawls 127 engaging the ratchet teeth of the wheel 119, and so arranged as to avoid lost motion when the arm 122 is swung to advance the wheel 119. A set of pawls 123 carried by the plate prevents the reverse movement of the wheel 119. Thepawls 127 and 128 are so spaced with respect to the ratchet teeth as to have the same effect as if the ratchet teeth were of considerably vshorter length. Thus, with three pawls on the arm 122, one of them will engage the shoulder of a ratchet tooth before the arm 122 moves a distance greater thanone-third the length of al ratchet tooth, and by using a greater number of pawls, the lost motion is reduced proportionately. lt therefore requires ak predetermined number of revolutions of the shaft 9 to actuate the cutting device. Each time the shaft 9 is rota-ted once, a predetermined length of coil l2 is delivered through the cutting device, and, therefore, after the shaft-,9 has rotated a predetermined number of times and delivered a predetermined length of twisted wire, the cutting device is operated automatically to cut. the wire. By adjusting the wrist pin 1241, the twisted wire can be cutv into different lengths, inasmuch as the nearer the wrist pin is to the center of the disk 129, the less will be the throw of the arm 122, and it will require a greater number of revolutions of the shaft 9 accordingly, In fact, by adjusting the wrist pin 124, to its extreme position outwardly from the center of the disk 129, the wire orcoil will be cut into short lengths of only a. few feet, and in the other extreme, with the w-rist pin near the center of the disk 129, the throw of the arm 122 can be reduced to a fraction of one of the teeth of the wheel 119, thereby cutting the wire into lengths of many feet, as high as two or three times the number of teeth of the ratchet wheel 119. Thus, during the operation of the machine,-the wheel 119 is. gradually rotated step by step and the roller pin 121 in moving under 'the arm 115 .will raise it. Then, when the predeterminedV length of wire `has been delivered through the cutting device, the arm is released from the pin 121, thereby advancing the ratchet wheel 112 onefstep to cut the wire.

Wire-receiving trough.

Immediately Yin front of the cutting device 21 is located a` device 22 forr receiving the wire or coil and dumping it when cut, so that it can be accumulated within a box or other receptacle. This device comprises a trough of any suitable length extending longitudinally from the cutting device and preferably sloping from said device so that Ahe wire will pass along said trough with minimum friction or resistance. The trough has the inclined upwardly-diverging sides 130 and 131, the lower edges of which are normally in contact, The rear end of the fixed side 130 is carried bya bracket 132, and the side 130 can be similarly supported at its other end and intermediate points. The side 131 can be carried by the arms 133 pivoted, as at 131, to the bracket 132, whereby said side 131 can swing away from the side 130, thereby opening the bottom of the trough so that the severed length of coil drops down into the box or receiver.

This dumping of rthe length of wire or coil is doneautomatically at the time the wire is cut. rThus, the arm 133 adjacent to the cutting device has a finger 135, anda bar 135 is pivotally and is slidable in the bracket- 132. This bar 136 carries a pivoted trip 137 normally swung by a spring 133 aga-inst a stop 139. Said spring 133 permits the trip 137 to swing under and snap when the arm 115 is swung bythe pin 121; and, when the arm 115 is released to turn the ratchet wheel 112, the trip 137 will impinge against the finger 135, and thus swing the side 131 of the trough open. y ered lengths of wire or coil can thus drop out of the trough, and when the trip 137 has passed the linger 135, the side 131 of the trough swings back to normal position. The wire as it is delivered will pass into the trough and slidel along the same freelyto be supported therein until cut. I The coil can rotate within said trough during delivery.

Operation.

The operation of the several devices V19, 18, 20, 21, and 22 have been described briefly under the respective headings, so that the operation of the machine will no doubt be readily understood; but briefly stated, itis as follows: During the twisting operation, the roll 44C is held down tight on the coil l2 by the spring 7 6, and the rotation of the rolls 13 and 14 will rotate the coil in the proper direction to twist the strands 32 within the twist-forming device 19,'and this device is moved rearwardly by such twisting of the wire. The rearward movement of the device 19 is retarded, as above described, by the cam flange 101 so that the helices of they coil are properlyl and uniformly` formed. yDuring this twisting operation the roll 82 of the compressing device 20 is lowered,v so as not tok gripthe coil during connected to the arm 115 L past the finger 135 The sevthe rotation thereof Now, when the roll 44 is lifted by the spring 60, due to the releasing of the member' 52 by the operation of the cam 79 in moving the slide 69, the cam flange 101 now advances the device 19, and, at the same time, the cam 94 raises the slide 90 and roll 82, whereby the rolls 81 vand 82 will grip the coil between them and advance the coil to assist the device 19, and to simultaneously compress the coil into smaller diameter for the purpose above set forth. The forward movement of the coil is thus accomplished by the forward movement of the device y19 and rotation of the rolls 81 and 82, so that the coil is easily stripped ofi of the mandrel or core wire 88. During this forward movement of the coil, it is deliveredv into the trough of the device 22. 1 Then, when the roll 4A again grips the coil, the roll 82 is lowered to release the coil, to repeat the operation. The device 19 having been moved forwardly so that the strands 32 are pulled forwardly, said device 19 and strands are in a position to again take up the twisting operation. The rolls 81 and 82 of the device 20, and rolls 43 and 44 of the device 18 alternately grip the coil, the first-named set serving to feed the coil forwardly and compress it `at the same time, and the secondnamed set serving to rotate the coil for the' twisting operation, without usingfa rotating chuck or similar device for gripping the wire and rotating therewith. By rolling the coil tightly between the rolls 81 and 82 so that the strands are set slightly one against the other, this will make the coil only tightly elastic under a high tensile strain, and such elasticity is limited to a very small degree of extension, at which time the strands in bearing' against one another will limit and prevent any further extension of the coil, the coil contracting to its original length when the tensile strain is removed. The coil will thus withstand the tensile strains to which it may be subjected and although the coil can stretch slightly under heavy strains,'it will not remain set even under an extreme strain, but will return and resume its original length when the strain is removed. The compressing and elongating of the coil will also increase the stiffness and resiliency thereof, and although it can be bent `it will spring back to its original position, unless bent beyond a sharp angle. During the operation, the strands are twisted tightly around the core wire 38, and when the roll le is raised, the releasing of the coil will permit it to rebound or untwist slightly, due to the resiliency of the strands, so that the coil will enlarge very slightly to loosen it onthe wire 88, so that the coil can be readily stripped from said wire 38 in movingthe coil forwardly as above described. y l

The cutting device operates automatically after a predetermined number of operationsl of the'. devices 18, 19, andi20, and will auto-` matically cut the wire into the desired lengths, and at the same time that the wire is cut, the severed lengths are dumped from the trough. The lengths of wire thus delivered can be caught in a box or other receptacle fro n which they can be conveniently removed from time yto time.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:- i

l. A. wire twisting machine embodying a set of rolls for lgripping twisted wire between them and rotating' such wire, a twistfori'ning device movable toward and away from said rolls, means for ,moving saidr device toward saidrolls, and means operable with saidmeans for shifting one of said rolls to release the twisted wire between them when said device is moved toward the rolls and then shifting said roll to grip the wire between the rolls.

wire twisting' machine embodying a sety of rolls' for grippingtwisted wire between them and rotating such wire, means carrying one of said rolls for shift-ing movement to `grip and release thewire, a twist-formii devicetmovable toward and away from said rolls, and operating means operable to sinuiltaneously move said device toward the rolls, and sl'iiftthe lirstnamed means and .roll carried thereby to release the wire, and then. operable for shifting said firstnamed means and roll to grip the wire and to permit themovement of said device away from the rolls. y i i l 8. A wire twisting machine embodying wire-rotating means operable to alternately grip and release the forming device movable toward and away from saidmeans, a cam drum having a cam portion extending helically in one direction and similarly in the opposite direct-ion, and means ei'igaging said cam portion andconnectedto said device for moving Isaid devicetoward said means and retardingthe movement of said device away from said means and constructed and arranged for the manual movement of said device toward said means independently of said cam drum;

le A wire ytwisting machine including a twist-forming side plates disposed face to face, means for supporting one plate, means clamping said plates together so that the other plate can be removc'ch said plates having complementary grooves in their adjacent-faces formingA a bore,thc first-named plate having a slot for the entrance of the wire strands into said bore, and a` die member fitted within said bore and having one end formed with a .helical die for guiding the last strandlinto a helix,- the second-named plate whenr removed permitting the adjacent facesof the plates and said diey member to be iiled or trimmed.

device comprising a pair of?"` so y n' twisted wire, a twistiis third roll and pair of rolls, Analed in said cap member for the contact I to said rolls for rotating them,

- to grip and release the wire,

.between said rolls, a hinged A wire twisting machine including a twist-forming device embodying a blocl having a bore and a slot for the entrance of the wire stra to said bore, a die member within said bore and having one end formed with a helical die for guiding the last strand into a helix, and a pin extending through said slot adjacent te said bore for the Contact of the first strand so as to heldkthe strands against one another and against said die member.

6. A wire twisting machine embodying a set of rolls for gripping twisted wire be tween them for rotating such wire, means for driving said rolls, rollers at the outer sides of said rolls contacting therewith to hold said rolls against the wire and serve as roller bearings therefor, and means operable for shifting one of said rolls and the corresponding roller toward and away from the wire automatically sothat the rolls grip and rotate the wire for twisting it and then release the wire for the adyance of the wire, alternately.

7. A wire twisting machine embodying pillow blocks, movable bearings mounted in said pillow blocks, a pair of rolls journaled in said bearings, rollers journaled in said pillow blocks for supporting said rolls, a movable cap member mounted on said pillow blocks, a third roll carried by said cap member to grip twisted wire between said ka roller jourof the outer side of the third roll, said rollers holding the rolls against the wire and serving as roller bearings therefor, means geared and means for moving said cap member to grip and release the wire automatically.

S. A wire twisting machine according to claim T and including in combination a roller carried by said cap member and con-rv tacting with one side of the third roll to prevent it springing sidewise due to the pressure in rotating the wire.

9. A. wire twisting machine embodying a set of rolls for gripping twisted wire between them to rotate said wire, means for alternately twist-ing wireand feeding same member carrying one of said rolls for shifting movement and automatic means for swinging said member for causing the rolls to alternately grip and release the twisted wire including a member inevable manually into and out of engagement with said member.

10. A wire twisting machine embodying a set of rolls for gripping twisted wire between them to rotate said wire, a hinged member carrying one of said rolls for shifting movement to grip and release the wire, a rod having an eccentric mounting, a bar hingedly' connected. tov said rod' and movable into and out of engagement with said member, and means for rocking said rod for causing said roll to grip and release the wire. l

11. A wire twisting machine embodying a set of rolls for gripping twisted wire to rotate same, one of the rolls being shiftable te grip and release the wire, means carry ing said roll bodily and movable for shift-l ing the roll, and operating means connected to said rolls for rotating them and operatively connected to said means for moving same te positively and automatically shift said roll toward and away from the wire to grip and release the wire at predetermined intervals of rot-ation ofthe rolls.

12. Ay wire twisting machine embodying wire-rotating means, twist-forming and feeding means movable toward and away from said rotating means, said rotating means being operable to grip and release the wire, operating means for moving said forming and feeding means toward the rotating means and simultaneously causing said rotating means to release the wire and then causing said rotating means to grip the wire, rolling means for rolling and compressing the wire delivered from the rotating means and to assist in the feeding of the wire with said forming and feeding means, and means for causing the rolling means to ygrip the wire when the rotating means releases same and the forming and feeding means is moved toward the rotating means.

13. fr wire twisting machine embodying means for alternately twisting wire and feeding same, a rolling device having rolls shiftable to grip and release the wire when delivered from saidvmeans to roll and compress the wire and assist in the feeding thereof, and automatic means for causing said rolls to grip the wire when it is fed and to release the wire when it is twisted.

14. A wire twisting machine embodying means for alternately twisting wire and feeding it, a rolling and feedingr device embodyinggrooved rolls for compressing the wire between them and feeding it, means for rotating said rolls, a slide carrying one roll to cause it to grip and release the wire, and means for moving said roll grips and releases the is fed and twisted, respectively, named means.

l15. A wire twisting machine embodying means for twisting andr delivering wire and having a'reci'precatory motion, a cutter for cutting` the delivered wire, and means for operating the cutter whenever a predetermined number of reciprocatory motions` of said means have been'made. Y

16. A wire twisting machine embodying means for twisting .and delivering wire and having a reciprocatoryr motion,

wire as the wire by the first a cutter for slide so that said f cutter for cutting cutting the delivered wire, and means operable vwith said means to automatically `013er-,v ate said cutter and adjustable for operating c the cutter when different numbers of reciprocatory motions of the first-named means have been made. i

17. A wire twisting machine embodying means for twisting and ldelivering wire, a the delivered wire, means for receiving the delivered wire and operable for dumping same, and means for automatically operating the cutter to cut'the delivered wire into predetermined lengths and for opera-ting the last-named means to dump the wire when cut.

18. A wire twisting machine embodying means for twisting and delivering wire, a cutter for cutting the delivered wire, a trough for receiving the delivered wire and operable for dumping same, and means for automatically operating said cutter and trough for cutting the delivered wire into predetermined lengths and dumping the wire from said trough when out.

19. A cutting device for wire or the like embodying a cutter, means for delivering the wire or the like past said cutter, means operable with the delivery means and in-k cluding a member moved to a position for operating the cutter and then released when a predetermined length of wire has been delivered past the cutter, and means for mov-y ing said member and cutter with a quick movement when said member is released for cutting the wire.

20. A cutting device for'wire or the like embodying a wheel having an annular series of shearing apertures for the passage of the wire in succession therethrough and mov-` able step by step forshearing the wire, said wheel having ratchet teeth, an oscillatory arm, means operable with the feeding of the wire through said wheel for moving said arm in one direction, a pawl carried by said armv engageable with said ratchet teeth to advance the wheel one step in the movement of the arm in the other'direction, and means for moving said arm in the last-named direction. V

2l. A cutting device embodying a ratchet wheel having an annular series of shearing apertures for the successive passage of wire or the like therethrough and movable step by step for shearing the wire, an oscillatory arm, spring means for. moving said arm in `one direction, a pawl carried by said arm `to engage the ratchet wheel for advancing it onestep when the arm is swung in said direction, a wheel having means for moving said armin the other direction and releasing it, an oscillatory arm cooperable withthe second-named wheel, ratchet means between the second-named wheel and arm fory advancing-said wheel step by step, a crank disk' rotatable with the delivery of the wire,y a radially adjustable wrist-pin carried by ksaid crank disk, and a connecting rod connecting said wrist pinand secondnamed arm. n

22. A mechanism for cutting and receiving Wireor the like, embodying a cutter, means for delivering ywire or the like past said cutter, a receiving trough beyond the cutter for receiving the delivered wire or the like, means operable with the delivery means and including a member moved to a position for operating the cutter and then releasing said member for the operation of the cutter, means for removing said member with a quick movement when it is released for cutting the wire or the like, and means operable with said member when released and moved by the last-namedy means for' operating the trough to drop the severed wire or the like therefrom. y

23. In a cable machine, a frame, feed rolls journaled in said frame, ity of strands of wire mounted in said frame and means for simultaneously coiling said strands in parallel spirals, comprising a mandrel vconstituting ra temporary core for said strands mounted in said frame,a spiral guide around said mandrel and aspacing plate rigidly mounted adjacent to said mandrel, beingy arranged to temporarily prevent said strands from bending longitudiguides for a plural` j nally of saidmandrel away from said guide.

24. Ina cable'machine, a frame, feed rolls journaled in said frame, guides for a plurality of strands of wire mounted in said frame, means for simultaneouslycoiling said strands in aparallel spirals, comprising a mandrel mounted in said frame and a spiral guide around said mandrel in said frame and a knife in operative connection with said feed rolls for cutting the coiled strands into uniform lengths.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

GARY B. SMITH. 

